The bank partnered with the Rockford School District in January 2013 to introduce the program at all four district high schools.

The centerpiece of the program is the EverFi Financial Literacy program, an online tutorial designed to provide freshman and seniors with real-world skills in banking, saving, managing credit, understanding credit score, consumer fraud, financial aid, renting versus owning, taxes, insurance and investing.

It’s not so much what the students are learning about finances that is different from generations ago but the tools utilized to teach the course.

The EverFi Financial Literacy program is web-based. It uses the latest media technology — avatars, 3-D gaming, and social networking — to introduce financial concepts to today’s digital generation.

“It takes a dry topic and makes it more exciting for the kids,” said Jefferson High School freshman seminar teacher Christine Wilkie. “It’s an entertaining format, and it’s engaging. That’s the key.”

Wilkie said about 85 percent of the program is taught with the aid of computer laptops.

The program contains 10 modules. Each module concludes with a quiz.

Once a student passes all 10 modules they are deemed certified in financial literacy.

“It’s something to include on your college application,” said Kris King, of Rockford Bank & Trust Financial Scholars program coordinator.

So far, more than 1,500 students have participated in the program.

“I like the interaction,” Jefferson freshman Bobby Williams said of the modules. “It’s prompting you to answer questions, and there are some games you can play with it. We learned about the pros and cons of renting and owning and selling and buying.”

Rockford Bank and Trust has pledged $12,500 a year for three years to pay for the program.

“After that, we have every intention of continuing it for as long as the school district wants,” King said.